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Forbidden Broadway: Behind the Mylar Curtain
The hilarious story of the longest-running musical revue in the world – 30 years! “The funniest show in New York!” – The New Yorker
Forbidden Broadway is a no-holds-barred chronicle of the revue that has enthralled and delighted audiences in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and all around the world for three decades, spoofing shows from Les Misérables to Wicked and stars from Ethel Merman to Hugh Jackman. It is a whimsical inside glimpse at the evolution of the show in its 20 incarnations to date, with zany parodies, hilarious lyrics, and behind-the-scenes stories – told by the creator/producer, Gerard Alessandrini. Filled with dozens of outrageous pictures from the production, this is one of the most fun-filled books ever created about theatre, a one-of-a-kind “mockument” that every showbiz aficionado will treasure.
Includes 100s of photos including two 16-page color sections, as well as famous Forbidden Broadway parody lyrics to over 100 songs from the show.
Forbidden Broadway is a no-holds-barred chronicle of the revue that has enthralled and delighted audiences in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and all around the world for three decades, spoofing shows from Les Misérables to Wicked and stars from Ethel Merman to Hugh Jackman. It is a whimsical inside glimpse at the evolution of the show in its 20 incarnations to date, with zany parodies, hilarious lyrics, and behind-the-scenes stories – told by the creator/producer, Gerard Alessandrini. Filled with dozens of outrageous pictures from the production, this is one of the most fun-filled books ever created about theatre, a one-of-a-kind “mockument” that every showbiz aficionado will treasure.
Includes 100s of photos including two 16-page color sections, as well as famous Forbidden Broadway parody lyrics to over 100 songs from the show.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 29, 2018
Every performance of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY would end with "Well, ta-ta folks, glad you got the jokes and below-the-belt repartee." Indeed, that's a good summary of this cabaret-style revue, with sugar, spice and in-jokes about Broadway musicals sufficient to sustain numerous updates from 1982 'til now and possibly on into the future.
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN is a 2009 book about the long-running revues, where parody lyrics mock popular Broadway singers ("Stritch" to the tune of PAL JOEY'S "Zip") and trends ("Teeny Todd," the scaled down version of Sweeney). Part yearbook, part retrospective, written by series founder and leading light Gerard Alessandrini with Michael Portantiere and featuring numerous tributes from cast members like Christine Pedi and Bryan Batt, this coffee-table-sized book offers a great many lyrics and some how-tos (how to secure rights, how to fake the sinking of the Titanic, and similar practical, cabaret-scaled stuff).
This nearly unbeatable combination of slightly soiled satire, camp (half-naked ballerinos) and celebrity (Mayor Ed Koch, Christine Ebersole and Stephen Sondheim among them) is well illustrated and contains ample color plating. Some undeserving churl who was probably given "my" copy as a gift left it in nearly pristine condition, bequeathing me a good solid bargain when I bought it used through Amazon. You can also get it new, again, after a hiatus.
As wonderful as the book is, attending any sessions of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY or spin-offs like FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD is even better, as is listening to the many CD's. Happily, the series is back again, and most of the cast albums are available as compact discs, though you may have to shop around a little. Believe me, it's worth it, unless you think that Broadway is too sacrosanct to withstand a little lampooning.
Photo: FORBIDDEN BROADWAY STRIKES BACK, 1996:
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN is a 2009 book about the long-running revues, where parody lyrics mock popular Broadway singers ("Stritch" to the tune of PAL JOEY'S "Zip") and trends ("Teeny Todd," the scaled down version of Sweeney). Part yearbook, part retrospective, written by series founder and leading light Gerard Alessandrini with Michael Portantiere and featuring numerous tributes from cast members like Christine Pedi and Bryan Batt, this coffee-table-sized book offers a great many lyrics and some how-tos (how to secure rights, how to fake the sinking of the Titanic, and similar practical, cabaret-scaled stuff).
This nearly unbeatable combination of slightly soiled satire, camp (half-naked ballerinos) and celebrity (Mayor Ed Koch, Christine Ebersole and Stephen Sondheim among them) is well illustrated and contains ample color plating. Some undeserving churl who was probably given "my" copy as a gift left it in nearly pristine condition, bequeathing me a good solid bargain when I bought it used through Amazon. You can also get it new, again, after a hiatus.
As wonderful as the book is, attending any sessions of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY or spin-offs like FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD is even better, as is listening to the many CD's. Happily, the series is back again, and most of the cast albums are available as compact discs, though you may have to shop around a little. Believe me, it's worth it, unless you think that Broadway is too sacrosanct to withstand a little lampooning.
Photo: FORBIDDEN BROADWAY STRIKES BACK, 1996:
April 16, 2010
I love this show and what a wonderful history of the whole she-bang. Includes al of the parody lyrics and even some extras.
April 4, 2011
Actually reading the lyrics makes you realize how well crafted they are.
April 7, 2012
Excellent read on the making, the updates and even some of the many parody lyrics to the Forbidden Broadway phenomenon~! So much fun and love went into this revue. Great for theatre buffs!
March 15, 2021
No one spoofs like Forbidden Broadway.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews